The Scottish Conservatives have welcomed measures for compulsory dog microchipping, adding that the legislation is well overdue.
For the past few years, the party has been campaigning alongside national charities for tougher measures on dangerous dogs.
Last year, it was revealed that 10,953 dog bite incidents occurred over a three year period, highlighting the problem of dangerous dogs being bred across Scotland.
Now the Scottish Government has eventually followed the UK Government’s lead to introduce compulsory microchipping as law in 2016.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East, said:
“I welcome the fact that the minister has taken the positive decision to introduce the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in Scotland.
“The Scottish Conservatives have been working for some time and pressing the Scottish Government to act to introduce compulsory microchipping of dogs and to address the many complex issues surrounding responsible dog ownership and breeding in Scotland, and today’s announcement is a welcome step forward.
“There are still a number of outstanding issues which the compulsory microchipping of all dogs will not address, namely puppy farms and the growth in the sale of puppies and dogs online as well as the indiscriminate breeding of dogs in social rented properties and the lack of enforcement and dog control by local authorities.”